Roman Baca, who served in Fallujah for about eight months as a sergeant in the Marine Corps Reserves, says it’s hard for him to hear people question the military’s work there. During his time, his machine gun platoon spent many of its days patrolling local villages, delivering school supplies to students and food and water. The 39-year-old New York City man returned to Iraq last year to conduct a dance workshop. He’s most worried about what the outbreak of violence means for the Iraqis.

The festival panels range from writings on sex to food literacy and from whistle-blowing to the ever-popular topic of gentrification. Oakland memoirists, including Novella Carpenter, Zac Unger and Rod Campbell, will get their own panel, while film archivist Rick Prelinger will present “Lost Landscapes of Oakland,” a montage of found footage of historical Oakland. One of the panels Timothy Don is most excited for is the one on faith and social justice, with the participation of the Rev. Harold Mayberry, of Oakland’s First African Methodist Episcopal Church.

One Life Stand: Through Sept, 29, Marsh Berkeley Cabaret, 2120 Allston Way, Berkeley, Alicia Dattner (The Oy of Sex) shares her modern girl’s guide to enlightenment and other disorders, with her stand-up comedy show, $20-$35, sliding scale; $55-$100 reserved, www.themarsh.org, Kiss: Through Sept, 23, Ashby Stage, 1901 Ashby Ave., Berkeley, A group of actors discover a script set in Damascus and eagerly begin performing what appears to be a romantic melodrama, believing they will learn something about what it’s like to live in Syria, Then everything denim fabric embellished ballet flat shoes blue jutis blue mojari blue khussa explodes, Performance by Shotgun Players, $7-$42, shotgunplayers.org/online/article/kiss..

Next up at Diablo Actors’ Ensemble is “The Giver.” Based on Lois Lowry’s award-winning novel for young adults, the story tells of a community where there are no wars, no pain, no fear and no choices. The family-oriented play runs July 15-24 at 1345 Locust St. in Walnut Creek. Go to www.diabloactors.com for more information. Well-known performers Renee DeWeese and Rena Wilson have started their own theatrical school, the Lamorinda Theatre Academy. The two have long been involved teaching in various other programs (including working with the wonderful Jenny Denison Perry) and decided it was time to open their own academy.